Peter King, Chris Russo debate Redskins team name

Is the Washington Redskins’ team name offensive, or has controversy surrounding the name been blown out of proportion? Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, the Editor-in-chief of The MMQB, and SiriusXM’s Chris Russo took on the debate on Mad Dog Sports Radio.

“It does offend some people,” King said. “I’m not going to use it anymore. I’m not trying to sit here and proselytize to anybody, I’m just saying that it makes me uncomfortable to use.

King’s argument wasn’t able to convince Russo, who was adamant that the name didn’t need a change.

“The Redskins have had that name since 1935, when we all know their player-coach was Native-American, and that’s why they got the name ‘Redskins,”” Russo said. “Now, in 2014, because we are so sensitive to anything that’s uttered that might be considered offensive to whoever that person might be, we have an issue with it? This has been going on for 100 years, and now the media’s turned?”

Russo and King also discussed Native American references in team names outside of the NFL.